Miriam Margolyes says she was in the running to become the new host of The Great British Bake Off - but, despite it being one of the biggest shows on TV, she turned it down.
"I was asked if I wanted to be considered to take over from Sandi Toksvig on Bake Off," she tells the Sunday Mirror's Notebook magazine.
"I can’t think of anything I would rather do less than be in a room with a frying pan and a saucepan. I’m not interested in cooking.
"I love being asked to supper, but to have anything to do with the preparation? It was kind of them to think of me, but no."
And it's not only Bake Off that wanted a piece of the 79-year-old actress, who starred as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and is currently in Call The Midwife as Mother Mildred.
"I was offered Strictly Come Dancing . Ridiculous," she says.
"If the only thing interesting in a job is the money, and you’re not poor, you mustn’t do it," is Miriam's feelings on her high profile job possibilities.
One thing she does love is her new-found career as a documentary maker - her latest is Miriam's Big Fat Adventure, coming soon to BBC1.
"I’ve always been good at talking to people because I’m interested in people. After the American documentaries, people started to ask me to do shows like that.
"One of the things they suggested to me was making one about fat and I though, ‘Yes I could do that because I am fat,’ and therefore when I talk to people I have something of myself that I share with them and I think that’s helpful," she says.
'"I ’ m p*ssed off with being fat. I always thought it was my fault, but I’m not sure now.
"I think it’s something in my head. I’m really uncomfortable in my own skin.
"My biggest regret is I didn’t lose weight young and I still haven’t lost it.
"I shouldn’t be fat at 79. It’s absurd."
- Miriam's Big Fat Adventure starts on Monday 9th March at 9pm on BBC2
